Children watch too many imported television programmes, warns regulator

Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom which regulates television in the
UK, told MPs that the amoount of home-grown children's programmes on British
television was 'not as good as it would ideally be'.

Ed Richards, the chairman of Ofcom, told MPs that the amount of home-grown children's programmes like Play School was 'not as good as it would ideally be'.Photo: SCIENCE & SOCIETY PICTURE LIBRARY

Children watch too many imported children’s television programmes, according to the media regulator.

Ed Richards, the chief executive of media regulator Ofcom, told MPs that the amount of home-grown children’s programmes on British television was “not as good as it would ideally be”.

He told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport committee: “It would a lot worse if you did not have the BBC and there was a complete vacuum and essentially we just had poor quality or exclusively imports of children’s programme from other countries.”

Mr Richards said it remained “absolutely essential” that the BBC was “seriously committed to original British children’s production.

He said: “The BBC is at its best when it is also being challenged by innovation, development, high quality programmes from other companies as well.

“My concern for children's [programming] is ‘is there that diversity of supply which keeps everybody on top of their game’.

“Ideally we would like to see some more UK children’s production from other sources, but there is always a ‘resourcing’ issue, always a challenge.”

Figures from Ofcom show that spending by BBC, Channel Four on children’s programming has fallen from £136million in 2006 to £106million in 2011.

Critics are increasingly concerned about the quality of children’s programming.

Baroness Benjamin – who as Floella Benjamin presented Play School in the 1970s – has previously criticised parents for letting their children watch too many 'dumbed down' imported programmes.

Lady Benjamin told The Telegraph on Wednesday that she was supporting a campaign for tax breaks for television companies that make children's programmes in the UK.

She said: "We are asking the Government for a tax credit for children’s live action productions as the children’s television production industry needs help and support because it is struggling.

"Our children deserve the best and need to see their world reflected on screen for their development."

A House of Lords report in 2010 expressed concern at the increase in imported programmes, particularly in children's shows, where they found that there had been a 48 per cent decrease in spending on British productions since 2003.